Stopper with safety seals



July 3, 1962 w. ABT 3,042,242

STOPPER WITH SAFETY SEALS Filed Feb. 13, 1961 FIG.

INVENTOR WALTER ABT QY M M ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,042,242 Fatented July 3, 1962 3,042,242 STOPPER ll/1TH SAFETY SEALS Walter Abt, Blonay, Switzerland, assignor to Inredeco, Inc, Dover, Del, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 88,764 4 Claims. (ill. 215-41) This invention relates to an improved combination container and stopper with safety seals. In particular, the invention relates to a combination container and spout-like stopper having a small outlet opening on the stopper with a safety seal, and in which the stopper itself is separable to provide a larger outlet opening, the separable stopper being further guarded by a safety seal.

It has been common practice to provide a container with a screw-on hollow, tapered spout with separable internal sealing means on the upper end thereof. If a small outlet is required, the seal on the upper end of the spout is broken. If this is done by an unauthorized person, the tampering can be readily detected since it cannot be repaired. If a large outlet is required, the spout is unscrewed from the container. However, if this is done by an unauthorized person, the tampering cannot be readily detected. Any external seal which has been broken can be replaced.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved combination stopper or spout and container wherein the stopper has separable parts one having a small outlet and the other a large outlet, with an integral seal between the stopper parts, so that once the seal has been broken, it cannot be replaced.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, the plastic stopper having an axial bore is divided into separate upper and bottom stopper portions. The bottom portion is sealingly and lockingly mounted on the neck of the plastic container. The stopper portions have means securing them together releasably and sealingly and including respective integral tear flanges on the bottom of the upper portion and top of the lower portion which extend radially outwardly therefrom. These flanges oppose and abut each other and are sealed together. Once the flanges are removed, by tearing or cutting them, the large outlet of the stopper bottom portion is available for use. However, even i-f the stopper upper portion can again be mounted on the lower portion, the flanges cannot be replaced, thereby ensuring detection of tampering. The stopper upper portion i tapered and is provided at its upper end with a restricted outlet which is closed by separable integral sealing means, the removal of which permits use of the restricted outlet. Again, tampering can be detected since the seal for the top of the spout or stopper cannot be replaced.

The construction in accordance with the invention is simple and economical, in addition to being highly advantageous in ensuring detection of unauthorized tampering with either of the two outlet means of the stopper or spout.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section on line 1-1 of FIG. 2 showing a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan View of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a third embodiment of the invention.

In the detailed description and claims, the container and spout will be assumed to be in the vertical and erect condition shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a container 1 which may be made of glass, plastic or any other suitable material. This container 1 has an upstanding and axially extending neck 1a having a through bore 2. The main part of container 1 is broken away, since it is conventional.

Bore 2 is optionally and preferably cylindrical, except that near the top thereof, the bore is cut away to form an annular recess 2a. The outer wall of recess 2a is upwardly outwardly inclined, and connects at its top with an upper recess wall 2b which. is upwardly inwardly inclined.

Opposing recess 2a, the peripheral wall of neck 1a is provided with an annular peripheral flange 20 which serves to maintain the thickness of the wall of the neck uniform, despite the presence of the recess in the bore thereof. The upper surface 2d of rib 2c is annular and is transverse to the axis of the neck, and serves as a shoulder.

Stopper 3 is preferably made of plastic and is divided into a lower or bottom stopper portion 3a which is mounted on neck 1a, and an upper or top stopper portion 321 which is mounted on bottom stopper portion 3a.

Stopper "bottom portion 3a has a head 30 which overlies and rests upon the top of neck la, this head 30 having an annular groove 30a in the lower face thereof, in which the upper portion of the peripheral wall of neck 1a extends frictionally. Outwardly of neck 1a, head 30 abuts shoulder 2d. Shank 31 depends from head 30 and extends frictionally slidably into bore 2 of neck 1a. Stopper portion St: has a through, generally cylindrical bore 5 whose diameter is only slightly less than the diameter of neck 2. Adjacent the lower end 6 of stopper bottom portion 3a, its shank 31 is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending, circumferentially spaced ribs 7 which are complementary in vertical sectional size and shape to recess 2a. Thus, each said rib 7 has an outer side face which is upwardly outwardly inclined, and an upper face 7a which is upwardly inwardly inclined.

Stopper 3 is preferably made of plastic which is somewhat resilient. When stopper lower portion 3a is lowered into the bore 2 of neck la, the outer surface of each rib 7 first strikes the peripheral wall of neck la, so that shank 31 is compressed inwardly as it enters bore 2. When ribs 7 register with recess 2a, the resilient shank 31 moves outwardly, so as to seat the ribs within the recess. In this position, each rib surface 7a abuts the recess surface 2b, the inclination of these two surfaces being such as to make it impossible, in normal operation, to withdraw stopper lower portion 3a from neck bore 2. it will be appreciated that if unusual force were exerted, for example by the use of tools, the two parts might be separated, but in all probability permanent damage would be done to one or both of the parts. In the claims, when reference is made to the fact that the stopper lower portion is non-removably mounted on the neck of the container, this will be understood to mean that the stopper is either normally unremovable in the absence of the exertion of unusual force, or can only be removed with the accompanying eflfect of permanent damage to the components.

In order to seat stopper top portion 3b on stopper bottom portion 3a, head 39 of stopper bottom portion 3a is provided on its upper face with an upstanding annular bead or rib ltl, which is slightly upwardly outwardly inclined. Stopper upper portion 3b has an annular groove 11 in the lower face thereof, which is correspondingly slightly upwardly outwardly inclined, which is adapted to receive rib l0 frictionally, with the lower face of member 3b resting upon the upper face of member 3a. In view of the inclination of rib l and recess 11, their interfit is a sealing spring fit.

The lower portion of stopper upper portion 3b has preferably a bore 35 of the same diameter as bore 5 of stopper lower portion 3a. Above bore portion 35, the wall or stopper upper portion 3b is upwardly tapered so as to be conical, thereby defining an upper outlet channel 8 of reduced or restricted diameter. Stopper upper portion 3b has a bulbous tip 9 closing the top thereof and integral therewith, and into which channel 8 extends. When said tip 9 is broken off at its base S a, by twisting or cutting the tip, channel 3 opens to the atmosphere to permit pouring of the contents of container ll. It will be understood that any integral and removable seal may be substituted for tip 9, or that a passage may be provided through the seal by puncturing it. When I refer in the claims to separable integral sealing means for the upper end of the member 3b, I mean to include by said language any of the expedients mentioned in this paragraph.

In accordance with this embodiment, the two members 3a and 3b are permanently secured together by an integral flexible connecting strap 12. Strap 12 is connected to one end thereof to the bottom of the outer periphery of upper member 3b. Strap 12 is connected at its lower end to the bottom of the outer periphery of head 3th of bottom member 3a. The length of strap 12 is less than the distance between the lower end of strap 12 and the top of bead 10.

As an important feature of the invention, rectangular flanges 13 and 14 respectively extend outwardly from upper member 3b and lower member 3a of stopper 3a, and are sealed together so as to provide means for detection of tampering. Said flange 3a connects with the periphery of member So at the very top thereof. Said flange 14 connects with the periphery of member 3b at the very bottom thereof. Flanges 13 and 1d oppose and register with each other and are in flush abutment. They are diametrically opposed to strap 12. Said flanges 13 and 14 are secured together by any suitable means, such as heat sealing or welding, so as to be permanently bonded together.

Strap 12 is sufliciently short so that while flanges l3 and 14 are mounted on stopper 3, members 301 and 3b cannot be separated.

Said flanges l3 and 14 must be removed from the stopper by tearing or cutting them along the edges at which they are connected to the stopper, in order for it to be possible to remove upper stopper portion 3b from lower stopper portion 3a. the flanges from the stopper, and for practical purposes not possible to separate the flanges from each other. In the claims, when flanges l3 and 14 are referred to as tear flanges, it will be understood that this language is intended to include flanges which may be removed by tearing, cutting or any other suitable means.

It will be appreciated that when flanges l3 and 14- are removed, part 312 may be separated from part 3a to permit rapid pouring of the contents of container 1 through bore 5, after which the stopper top portion 3b may be snapped hack on stopper bottom portion 3a. However, since the flanges l3 and 14 cannot be replaced, any unauthorized first use of the container can be detected, since either the seal g or the seal 13, 14, must be broken prior to initial use of the container.

Second Embodiment This is the same as the first embodiment, except as follows:

FIG. 3 shows a flange 16 corresponding to flange 14 and mounted upon top portion 312, and it will be understood that there is a further flange under flange 16, corresponding to flange l3 and fixed to flange l6 and attached to the stopper bottom portion. Instead of strap 12, a further flange 15 is provided which is diametrically opposed It is relatively easy to tear i to flange i6 and which serves the same function, it being understood that there is a further flange under flange 15 and fixed to flange 15 and serving the same function as flange 13 of the first embodiment.

This embodiment provides two seals for detection of tampering, at least one of which must be opened before the stopper top portion can be separated from the stopper bottom portion.

Third Embodiment This is the same as the first embodiment, except as follows:

FIG. 4 shows a circumferential-1y and outwardly extending peripheral annular flange 17 on stopper top portion 312 and corresponding in function to flange 14 of the first embodiment. It will be understood that a mating flange is mounted on the stopper bottom portion, corresponding in function to flange i3 and permanently secured to flange 17. Said flange 17 has an outwardly extending tab 17a, and the flange under flange 17 has a corresponding tab, to to facilitate grasping of the two flanges for separation purposes. The inner edges of flange 17 and its mating flange, which connect to the periphery of the stop-per are scored, or weakened or attenuated, as indicated by the reference numeral 18. A further score or weakening or attenuation line 18a extends from line 18 to the outer edge of flanges 1'7 and its mating flange, and is aligned with the tab radial edge 17:). It will be apparent that by grasping the tabs, the flanges may be torn first along line 18a, and then along line 13, so as to separate the tabs from the stopper.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, and have indicated various changes, omissions and additions which may be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A stopper for a container having a neck, said stopper comprising a stop-per lower portion having means for connection thereof to said container neck with said stopper, lower portion extending above said neck, said stopper lower portion having a top edge, said stopper lower portion having a through axial bore, a stopper upper portion having a bottom edge and a cavity extending to said bottom edge, said stopper upper portion also having an outlet passage from said cavity to its outer surface of smaller diameter than the diameter of said bore, means releasably sealing said outlet passage, said stopper portions having oo-operating snap means releasably securing them together with the bottom edge of said upper portion sealingly resting upon the upper edge of said bottom portion, tear flanges attached to sm'd stopper portions and extending radially therefrom respectively from the bottom edge of said upper portion and upper edge of said bottom portion, said snap means permitting turned orientation of said stopper portions for registration of said tear flanges, said stopper portions being snapped together with said tear flanges in registration, said tear flanges being secured together, said stopper portion being thereby locked from separation, said tear flanges being severable to permit separation of said stopper portions.

2. A stopper for a container having a neck, said stopper comprising a stopper lower portion having means for connection thereof to said container neck with said stopper lower portion extending above said neck, said stopper lower portion having a top edge, said stopper lower portion having a' through axial bore, a stopper upper portion having a bottom edge and having a conical shape to present an upper end of reduced diameter, the upper end of said stopper upper portion having an outlet passage of smaller diameter than the diameter of the bore of said stopper lower portion, means releasably sealing said outlet passage, the abutting end faces of said stopper portions respectively having a frictionally and sealingly interfitting annular groove in one and annular rib on the other, said stopper portions having opposing and abutting, integral, radially outwardly extending tear flanges thereon respectively at the top of said bottom portion and the bottom of said top portion and having means fixedly securing said flanges together, said stopper portions being thereby locked from separation, said tear flanges being severable from said stopper portions to permit separation of said stopper portions.

3. A stopper in accordance with being tongue like.

4. A stopper in accordance with claim 2, said tear flanges "being annular, one of said flanges having an extenclaim- 2, said flanges sion protruding radially beyond the other flange, said flanges having a line of weakening extending from the outer periphery thereof adjacent said flange extension to the inner periphery thereof and hence extending entirely around the periphery of said stopper portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 2,690,861 Tupper Oct. 5, 1954 2,757,824 Savary Aug. 7, 1956 2,823,249 Ourtiss Feb. 11, 1958 2,998,158 Tupper Aug. 29, 1961 

